Georgia specialist pens heartfelt message about ending his football career

Georgia punter and kicker Marshall Long is indeed retiring from football as reported two months ago.

Long announced on his Instagram page in a heartfelt note that he would be walking away from football and taking a medical disqualification.

Long hasn’t played since Georgia played Kentucky in 2016. At that time he was the starting punter. Since then, he’s suffered two knee injuries and different setbacks.

Below is Long’s Instagram post:

What a strange few months it has been without football. As some may know, I made a tough decision to end my football career a year early due to 3 knee surgeries and many health issues that seemed to not go away. While football allowed me to travel the country, meet celebrities, and play college football on a big stage, it’s not my favorite memories. When I look back on my life, my favorite memories are from when I was a kid playing with my Dad. Whether it was playing football in the back yard, swimming, riding bikes, etc. Those moments will always be what I cherish the most. And I want to be able to give my kids one day those same great memories my dad gave me. I felt that if I continued my football career, then there will be less memories I will be able to give my family one day.

I’ve been asked countless times if I’m alright with my decision. And yes the decision hits my heart really hard to this day, I look forward to sharing my story with others of how I’ve been at the top and I’ve been at the bottom, and I wouldn’t change a thing because it made me who I am. Football showed me how to be a man, how to handle adversity, and it allowed me to meet great friends and most importantly find a savior who loves me for me, whether I’m a football player or not.

I will forever be grateful for the times between the hedges and being able to call myself a dawg. It’s been an honor. #godawgs

 

View this post on Instagram

 

What a strange few months it has been without football. As some may know, I made a tough decision to end my football career a year early due to 3 knee surgeries and many health issues that seemed to not go away. While football allowed me to travel the country, meet celebrities, and play college football on a big stage, it’s not my favorite memories. When I look back on my life, my favorite memories are from when I was a kid playing with my Dad. Whether it was playing football in the back yard, swimming, riding bikes, etc. Those moments will always be what I cherish the most. And I want to be able to give my kids one day those same great memories my dad gave me. I felt that if I continued my football career, then there will be less memories I will be able to give my family one day. I’ve been asked countless times if I’m alright with my decision. And yes the decision hits my heart really hard to this day, I look forward to sharing my story with others of how I’ve been at the top and I’ve been at the bottom, and I wouldn’t change a thing because it made me who I am. Football showed me how to be a man, how to handle adversity, and it allowed me to meet great friends and most importantly find a savior who loves me for me, whether I’m a football player or not. I will forever be grateful for the times between the hedges and being able to call myself a dawg. It’s been an honor. #godawgs

A post shared by Marshall Long (@marshalllong) on Apr 7, 2019 at 10:21am PDT

SDS Staff

Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.